Joplin, MO - Direct tornado hit

**Al_4_State** · 05-23-2011, 07:49 AM

Just found out my cousin was driving through Joplin and got passed it about 2 minutes (literally) before all hell broke loose.

Basically, this is what would have happened if the Parkersburg twister had hit Waterloo. We're very fortunate here that our bigger storms have mostly avoided highly populated areas.

**Jambalaya** · 05-23-2011, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by jsmith86

Wow. This is just unreal. I drive through Joplin every time I go back to Iowa and I know some of the places that got hit. Seeing the damage is just...wow.

thoughts and prayers to people of Joplin.

I wish people would realize staying in your auto during a tornado isn't the best thing you can do. seeing the cars strewn everywhere in Joplin is proof

**Rickybaby** · 05-23-2011, 07:55 AM

Wow, what a horrible, horrible situation. Worst I've ever seen from tornado damage. Those poor people.

**Bobber** · 05-23-2011, 08:38 AM

They're all bad, but this is really a bad one.

**ISUFan22** · 05-23-2011, 09:21 AM

Another video...

Tornado devastates Joplin, Missouri - video | World news | guardian.co.uk

**Arkansas** · 05-23-2011, 09:31 AM

To make it worse, all of Jasper County was under a thunderstorm warning not all that long ago. A lot of emergency people have been on the job since the tornado hit and are needing replacements so they can get a breather. I have friends down there that are headed that way with 4 wheelers to help out. I feel terrible that I'm not down there to help out....even if it's passing out bottles of water or something. I love NW Arkansas but I've always liked Joplin and it kills me to see it literally destroyed.

**nj829** · 05-23-2011, 09:42 AM

Arkansas have you heard how your house did in Bella Vista? Hail core that went over BV was between 2-3 inches, it was down to less than an inch by the time it hit Pea Ridge and all rotation stayed just south of the immediate area.

**CyBroncos** · 05-23-2011, 09:56 AM

As Reed Timmer would say "It's a beast"

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuU-nFuIZN4]YouTube - ‪Joplin MO Tornado May 22 2011.mov‬&rlm;[/ame]

**Arkansas** · 05-23-2011, 10:44 AM

Didn't see if this video has been posted, apologies if it has. This is some of the birds eye view of the destruction.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv3COQ6gv-8&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - ‪First Chopper footage Joplin Tornado May 22nd 2011‬&rlm;[/ame]

**Cyclonepride** · 05-23-2011, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Arkansas

Didn't see if this video has been posted, apologies if it has. This is some of the birds eye view of the destruction.

YouTube - ‪First Chopper footage Joplin Tornado May 22nd 2011‬&rlm;

Wow, that really gives you an idea of the huge amount of destruction across the city.

**Arkansas** · 05-23-2011, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by nj829

Arkansas have you heard how your house did in Bella Vista? Hail core that went over BV was between 2-3 inches, it was down to less than an inch by the time it hit Pea Ridge and all rotation stayed just south of the immediate area.

Thanks for the info! I was up til 2 last night texting back and forth with a friend of mine in BV hoping to get a feel of how intense of a storm it was and what possible damage we might be talking about whether heavy rain, hail, wind, or tornados. She's gonna head to my house later today and check it out. But the whole hail thing you mentioned makes me a little nervous. Sounds like I need to make a trip down there very soon.

I really appreciate the update, nj829!